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IQALUIT - Eleven high school students returned to Iqaluit last week as world travellers.

Talking a mile-a-minute, barely able to contain their excitement, the Grade 11 and 12 students recounted their 12-day tour of Europe as an experience of a lifetime.

Seeing the Eiffel Tower lit up while cruising around Paris by boat was one of the highlights of the students' trip to Europe. - photo courtesy of Olivia Netser

"It opens your mind to a whole new world," said Zachary Cousins.

"It was life-changing," said Olivia Netser. "You don't want to miss any opportunity like that."

The students began their journey with an overnight flight to London, England, where they were met by rain, fog and dismal weather. But the trip brightened with a ride on the Eurostar - an underground train that runs under the English Channel - bringing them to Paris, France.

"Paris was really, really pretty," said Eden Tootoo. "I loved it."

Taking tours of the monuments and museums, the youth were provided with a taste of Parisian charm, including viewing the Mona Lisa.

From there, the students took a night train to Florence, Italy, many staying awake for the entire trip.

"It was a 12-hour train ride to Florence," said Cousins. "If you didn't wake up in Florence, you were going to wake up in Rome!"

The student said they were impressed by the Italian hospitality and the warmth of the people.

From Florence, they travelled to Assisi on their way to Rome.

"It was experiencing your own nirvana," said Andrea Omilgoitok, who felt a strong connection to the peacefulness and spiritual atmosphere of Assisi.

For others, it was the Italian food that captivated their interest, though they admitted they had eaten enough pasta for the time being.

"The food was amazing," said Netser, to which student Eric Blair added, "You can only eat so many croissants, though."

After Rome and the Colosseum came Pompeii, Sorrento and the Isle of Capri, where the stars of Hollywood flock to sunbathe and shop, and where hotel rooms cost up to more than 1,000 Euros per night, said Blair.

Having been with her students every step of the way, Inuksuk High School teacher Renata Solski was amazed by how eager they were to learn about the history and culture of the countries they visited.

"Our tour guide said he had never met such mature kids with a positive sense of confidence and self-image," she said. "He had never seen such a group that had such insight into everything."

Solski organizes the European trip every two years as a goal for the students and an experience full of life lessons - even how to go through customs at the airport is a good thing for them to learn, she said.

"There were just so many teachable moments," said Solski, adding some of the kids paid for the entire trip themselves by working part-time jobs and fundraising.

First Air also contributed two tickets and Netser's family made an Inuit doll for the students to raffle.

"So there is a way to do it," said Solski.